Sister in Law: Lung cancer and will be having surgery to remove the lower lobe of her right lung.

My Favorite Quote

If we could look into each others hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us face, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with much more love, patience, tolerance, and care. "Marvin J. Ashton"

Relief Sociey Lesson 31 "God shall be with you forever and ever."

No affliction can separate us from the love of God and fellowship with one another.

Adversity lasts only a small moment; if we endure well, we will be exalted in the presence of God.

The Savior understands all of our suffering, and He will be with us forever and ever.

The still, small voice whispers consolation to our soul in the depths of our sorrows and distress.

I LOVE GENEALOGY

Frank & I have been doing genealogy for several years and we have been working a shift at the Family History Center, but had to quit due to our surgeries. Our favorite genealogy site is: Ancestry.com and we are excited that the Las Vegas Temple district has just recently been allowed to the newfamilysearch.org site. We love researching our families and have spent hours and hours doing so. We are the Family History Consultants for our Ward.

The below picture was taken on a trip Frank & I made in 2000. I was able to see this old Smith Home and meet some of my cousins on this trip. I actually visisted this old place when I was a very small child around 4 years old, and I can still remember it. As I was wandering around the old place, I felt my deceased Aunt's presence and I could see her running around the yard playing as a small child. She was raised by the Smiths her grandparents.

The Old Smith Home Siler City, NC

My Mother's Grandparents Home

About Me

I was born in Salt Lake City, UT where I spent the first 20 years of my life. I graduated from West High School and went to Henager Business College, and worked at the State Road Shops in Salt Lake City. I married Larry Staley on Sept.30,1960 and we had three children, Sherry, Bret, and Garen. We moved to Grantsville,UT in 1961 and lived there for three years. We moved to NV in 1964 when Garen was just four months old. We lived in Las Vegas for a few months and then moved to Overton, NV where Larry opened the Bank of Las Vegas as the bank manager. He was killed in a bank robbery in August of 1967 along with two of his bank tellers. He was 28 and I was 26, and I was left with three small children. This was the hardest part of my life losing my husband at such a young age. I married Bud Walkington two years later. He was the husband of one of the tellers that was killed. He had two daughters, Lani and Lori. They and their children are still in my life and I love them dearly. This was an un-happy marriage and ended in 1978. I then Married Frank Merritt and have been happily married for 31 years now.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

A New Thought From Facebook

If
you find yourself in a negative situation with someone in your life, take a few
minutes each day to feel love within your heart for that person, and then send
it out into the Universe. Just doing this one thing helps to remove any
resentment, anger, or negativity towards that person.

Remember that feeling resentment, anger, or any
negative emotion attracts it back to you. Feeling love attracts love back to
you. What you are feeling for another, you are bringing to you. From The Secret
Daily Teachings byRhonda Byrne

I guess I keep picking up on these types of things because I have had a hard time dealing with my estranged family. The pain in my heart has been a constant part of my life over the past eight years. I have decided, I have to let it go and I think I will try to do the above and also put it in God's hands.

FRANK'S WEIGHT LOSS

I am so proud of Frank as he has now lost 60 lbs on his Medifast Diet. Now he wants to get below the 200 mark and has just ordered his last order of food. He has modified the diet and it is working for him. He is really tired of salads, so he has been eating raw broccoli and cauliflower, along with turkey sandwich meat, hot peppers, and dill pickles. He has been active by doing yard work and other things around the house.

I keep telling him he looks like the man I married 34 years ago.

VACATION - BROOKSIDE COTTAGE

We are so excited as I was able to tie up a beach house in Lincoln City, OR. We decided that it would be so much easier than towing our fifth wheel, and having to set it up every time we moved to a new location, plus the cost of fuel, etc. It would average out to be about the same in cost. If Frank has to have surgery on his shoulder, it would be hard for him to do all the things you have to do traveling with a fifth wheel. We will be able to explore more of the Oregon coast that we haven't seen, go explore BC, and visit my sister in Washington. We will be two blocks from the ocean, and we can walk to the beach and explore it.